Performance Standards and Admissions Requirements

Preparation Standards for Freshmen

All students graduating from high school in 1994 and beyond are subject to completing high school preparation requirements. St. Cloud State University expects that all incoming freshmen will be entering having completed the following:

• Four years of English including composition and literature.
• Three years of social studies including one year each of U.S. history and geography
• Three years of math including two years of algebra and one of geometry
• Two years of the same world language
• One year in an area of the arts
• Three years of science including one year of each of a biological and physical science and one year laboratory experience

Students graduating from schools with outcome- based instructional systems must provide information to support proficiency at levels consistent with the above. Portfolios should be accompanied by an explanation of the school's assessment methods.

Students who have not completed the curricular preparation requirements at the high school level can demonstrate that they have a sufficient background and knowledge base by successfully passing placement exams, or through a predetermined level of performance in the subject portion of the ACT. In lieu of this, a student may be admitted to St. Cloud State University but required to make up course work in the deficient subject areas.

Division of General Studies

Enrollment in this program is by referral from the Office of Admissions; therefore students must complete the regular freshman application process to be considered for the DGS program. Students are encouraged to apply early since this program has limited space and fills quickly. The Office of Admissions considers an applicant's high school class rank, high school academic record and progress, ACT scores and perceived potential for successful completion of university coursework. As a condition of their admission, students are also required to complete a placement assessment.

Within two weeks of referral to the program, the student must sign and return a program commitment agreement. This agreement confirms that the student intends to successfully complete the outlined requirements of the DGS program. The DGS program affords students enrollment in several required core courses as well as developmental courses, if necessary. Students may be required to complete developmental level courses should their individual placement test results indicate such a need. Failure to satisfactorily complete the requirements of the DGS program will result revocation of enrollment at SCSU.

See additional information under Undergraduate Studies.